Description: When Annamarie “Jayla” Howard is convinced to come work at a Scottish castle by her younger brother, she never dreams she’ll become embroiled in a tumultuous affair with its sexy-but-arrogant owner, Baron Alec Cavanaugh. The Good: This book is a serious page-turner. The only reason I didn’t read it in two sittings was because I had to actually do my dayjob — which I consequentially began to resent for keeping me from further reading. If you like soap opera and yelling, “Oh no, he didn’t!” at your books (as I do), then you will love TAMING THE SCOTSMAN. It has well-constructed conflict, a compelling alpha male who loves soul music, really wonderful cultural details about Scotland, and somehow Ms. Mynx...

Description: Trace and Dustin are best friend and shifter-wolves, and they have a very interesting problem. They’re both in love with the same woman, and she happens to be their employee. The Good: This is a good situation. And the sex is hot. The Bad: Almost the entire story is told and not shown. I’m still not sure if Olivia is black or white — the Amazon tags say bwwm, but she’s not described in physical terms outside of the two leads desire. The story has somewhat good bones, but ultimately fails due to really poor execution. The Naughty: Erotic. Menage. Editing issues: 2 typos Publisher: Capri Montgomery Books (Indie author) Length: 7,000+ words Final Grade: D+ Click on the widget to buy at Amazon for $1.50. Love IR...

LOUDER by Jorja Tabu is free over at Amazon until this Friday, so I figured now would be a great time to delve into her novella set, DEEPER LOUDER HARDER, which includes her first three IR stories. Description: DEEPER – Prim and proper librarian, Charlotte Goodtree, finds herself loosening up in all the right ways when a handsome contractor enters her life. But will his explosive secret destroy their budding relationship? LOUDER – Up and coming rapper, Ghost Diva (Gabby to her friends), receives the break of a lifetime when she lands the opening spot on tour for multi-platinum rapper, Echo. And, to her surprise, their chemistry burns even hotter off-stage. HARDER – Black secretary, Lisa Tyrell, is just about to quit on her domineering...

Anybody else sick of me talking about me? Good! Then let’s delve back into these reviews, which I really missed posting in the run up to getting my new book, HER RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE up and at ’em over at Amazon. First up this week, HELLRAISER by Kelly Wallace. Description: When bitter and cynical recent divorcé, Dr. Zach Taylor, agrees to buy into a practice in Baltimore sight unseen, he’s expecting an elderly white partner, tending to adult patients. But what he finds is Dr. Sam Winslow, a kooky-but-really-sexy black woman, who dresses up in costumes to tend to her pediatric patients. Can opposites this extreme attract? Oh yes, they can! The Good: Well, Sam is a total pip and very hard not to adore. I also really liked that the hero was serious...

Description: When Neal Stephens gets in horrific accident, his widowed assistant, Amana, literally saves his life by giving him one of her kidneys. So when she tells him that what she wants most is a baby, he gives her the one-night stand of a lifetime. But will one night be enough for either of them? The Good: I used to love secretary/boss romances back in the day, so I was really happy to read one with an IR twist. I love that Amana is really tall — you don’t see that often. Also, the two made a lot of sense as a couple. I was really rooting for them to be together. The Bad: While I loved that a lot of the story was told from Neal’s point of view, it made Amana’s character feel a little underdeveloped in contrast. Also, Neal is supposed...

Description: Best friends Simon and Afryca are in lust with each other from afar, but each is too afraid to tell the other how they really feel. Can one naughty club finally bring them together? The Good: This is a very good premise, and I liked that the H/H were regular folk. There were also some funny moments with the heroine. And I loved her best friend. The Bad: The plot is largely propelled along through interior monologue as opposed to sex or actions. This means that we spend an inordinate amount of time listening to the main characters go back and forth with themselves in their heads. It also means that nearly all the conflict is either internal or rooted in misunderstanding. If there was a bad assumption to be made or a wrong conclusion to draw, these...

Description: Best friends and ad execs, Mya and Milo, are fierce competitors in the boardroom, but they’re both nursing secret crushes on each other. Can they change their status from friends to lovers without losing their hearts? The Good: This was a blazing hot, sweet, and funny read. Mya and Milo have serious chemistry between the sheets and in the office. I liked that they were at equal levels in their careers and that their jobs figured so heavily into their love story. I also liked that their lack of communication was fear-based as opposed to convenient-plot-based. And there was a great speech at the end that reminded me that a hot story can be romantic and touching as well. This was a tightly-plotted, well-structured read with excellent dialogue, fun...